Safety lock for railroad spikes



June 28, 1949. w. 'r; MORRIS 2,474,366

7 SAFETY LOOK FOR RAILROAD SPIKES Filed May 13, 1947 L 4 yr /27- 0 7 7 TM i L5 Z INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS Patented 'June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,474,366 SAFETY LOOK FOR RAILROAD SPIKES William T. Morris, Breckenridge, Tex. Application May 13, 1947, Serial No. 747,724

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a retaining means or anchorage for railroad spikes, the primary object of the invention being to provide means for securing railroad spikes within their ties against displacement caused by vibrations directed thereto by rolling stock moving over the rails secured by the spikes.

An important object of the invention is to provide a retaining device of this character which will fit over the head of the spike, the anchorage member having shoulders adapted to engage under the base of the rail with which the device is used, preventing displacement of the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating a spike retaining device constructed in accordance with the invention as positioned over a spike and engaging the base of a railway rail.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the spike retaining device as positioned over a spike and embedded within the railway tie.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the spike retaining device.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises an inverted U-shaped member, providing spaced legs 5 and a head section 6, connecting the legs 5, as clearly shown by Figure 3 of the drawing.

Spaced from the head section 6, are lugs I that present shoulders 8, the lugs being so arranged with respect to the head section 6, that they will closely engage under the base of a railway rail, while the head section 6 thereof rests directly on the upper edge of the spike with which the spike retaining device is used.

The free ends of the lugs 1 have one of their respective edges curved as at 9, providing points 10, adapted to extend into the wooden tie, which in the present showing is indicated by the reference character H.

The reference character l2 indicates the spike with which the retaining device is used and as shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the free ends of the legs 5 are curved slightly upwardly from the spike l2 with which the retainer is used, so

2 that when the retainer is driven into the tie the pointed ends thereof will tend to move laterally, causing the legs to spread, at points adjacent to the pointed end of the spike, thereby securely locking the retaining member in position over the spike.

In the use of the retainer, the retainer is driven into the tie at an obtuse angle with respect to the rear edge of the spike. When the forward edges of the lugs have slightly passed the upper edge of the base of the rail, the retainer is forced inwardly toward the rail base, by directing heavy blows to the upper end of the retainer. The retainer will now take an upright position with the head thereof closely engagin the head of the railroad spike with which it is used, while the shoulders 8 rest directly under the base of the rail.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, a railway spike equipped with a retaining device, conconstructed in accordance with the invention, will be securely held in place against displacement, due to vibrations caused by heavy trains moving over the rails, secured to the spikes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

The combination with a railway rail and rail securing spike, of a spike retaining device comprising a body portion embodying spaced legs, a head connecting the upper ends of the legs, lugs extending forwardly from the legs adjacent to the head in spaced relation with the head, said legs and lugs adapted to be driven into a tie with which the retaining device is used with the upper surfaces of the lugs resting against the bottom of the rail, and the head overlying the spike in contact therewith, normally holding the spike against upward movement.

WILLIAM T. MORRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 880,938 Vlajnic Mar. 3, 1908 1,208,630 Ochs Dec. 12, 1916 1,603,686 Green Oct. 19, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 592,497 France Aug. 3, 1925 

